Always On My Mind

by Beth Moran

Every millimetre of contact was like connecting a circuit that sent electricity humming between us.

Meandering through gentle teasing, earnest soul-baring, loaded comments that made my heart pound in my throat, it was as if we were the only two people in the room. I’d never felt so alive.

‘Jessie, you know you don’t have to worry about me trying anything.’ I shook my head, my voice a whisper. ‘I’m more worried you might not try.’

he placed a tentative hand against my cheek, leant in and kissed me. I felt like I’d come home. Well, if home was like the best, most exciting, delicious place ever.

‘How do you feel?’ He laughed, ducked his head and took two eternally long breaths before looking up again. ‘I love you, Jessica Brown. So much it hurts.’

‘We hope that one day, wherever you are, you can be content.’

just a kiss?’ ‘In my extremely limited experience, there’s no just about that kind of kiss,’ Elliot said.

You messing up my schedule is the best thing that’s happened to me in years.’

I pressed down the clumps of seedlings into rich, crumbly compost and knew in my bones that, like them, it was time to stretch my fragile roots down into the earth here. To settle, to stay.